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BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 
HE  UNIVERSITY 

3F  CALIFORNIA 


CONSTITUTION    AND  ! 
BY-LAWS  ' 


OF  THE 

^-1 


Western  tederation 
or  Miners 


ADOPTED  AT 


BUTTE   CITY,  MONI 


May  19,  181)3 


Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  an 
November 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 
Amended  at 


Salt  Lake  City,  Utali,  1894. 
Denver,   Colorado,  1895. 
Denver,  Colorado,   1896. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1897. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1898. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1899, 
Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1900. 
Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1901. 
d  revised  at  Denver,  Colorado, 
1901. 

Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1902. 
Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1903. 
Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1904. 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1905. 
Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1906. 
Denver,  Colorado,  June,  1907. 
Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1908. 
Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1909. 
Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1910. 
Butte,  Montana,  July,   1911. 
Victor,  Colorado,  July,  1912. 


CONSTITUTION 

AND 

BY-LAWS 

OF  THE 

\\^estern  Federation 

of  Miners 

ADOPTED  AT 

BUTTE  CITY,  MONT. 

May  19,  1893 

Amended 

at 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  ' 

L894. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,   Colorado, 

1895 

Amended 

at 

Denver,   Colorado, 

1896 

Amended 

at 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, 

L897. 

Amended 

at 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1898. 

Amended 

at 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1899. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

May, 

1900. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

May, 

1901. 

Amended 

and  revised  at  Denver,  Colorado,    11 

November, 

1901. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

May, 

1902. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

May, 

1903. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

May, 

1904. 

Amended 

at 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1905.           || 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

May, 

1906. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

June 

,   1907. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

July, 

1908. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

July, 

1909. 

Amended 

at 

Denver,  Colorado, 

July. 

1910. 

Amended 

at  Butte,  Montana,  July,   : 

L911. 

Amended 

at 

Victor,  Colorado, 

July,  : 

L912. 

Great  Western  Pub    Co.,   Denver 


PREAMBLE 


1  1.     We  hold  that  there  is  a  class  struggle  in 

2  Society  and  that  this  struggle  is  caused  by  eco- 

3  nomic  conditions. 

4  2.     We  affirm  the  economic  condition  of  the 

5  producer  to  be  that  he  is  exploited  of  the  wealth 

6  which    he    produces,    being    allowed    to    retain 

7  barely  sufficient  for  his  elementary  necessities. 

8  3.     We    hold    that    the    class    struggle    will 

9  continue   until   the   producer   is   recognized   as 

10  the  sole  master  of  his  product. 

11  4.     We  assert   that   the  working   class,   and 

12  it  alone,  can  and  must  achieve  its  own  eman- 

13  cipation. 

14  5.     We  hold,  finally,  that  an  industrial  union 

15  and  the  concerted  political  action  of  all  wage 

16  workers,  is  the  only  method  of  attaining  this 

17  end. 

18  6.     Therefore,     we,     the     wage     slaves,    em- 

19  ployed  in  and  around  the  mines,   mills,   smel- 

20  ters,    tunnels,   open   pits   and   open   cuts,   have 

21  associated     'n     the     Western     Federation     of 

22  Miners. 


CONSTITUTION      HP(^6"A 

-PTON  ACCES»0«  f  |'/S"3  t^7X^ 

<C«li(5ltl8H«Y  ARTICLE    1.  /9/2_ 

1  Section  1,    This  organizaUori  /shall  be  known 

2  as  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  shall 

3  be   composed   of   all   persons   working  in   and 

4  around    mines,    mills,    smelters,    tunnels,    open 

5  pits  and  open  cuts,  organized  into  unions  pay- 

6  ing  per  capita  tax  to  the  Federation. 

7  Sec.    2.      The    objects    of    this    organization 

8  shall  be  to  unite  the  various  persons  working 

9  in  and  around  the  mines,  mills,  smelters,  tun- 

10  nels,  open  pits  and  open  cuts,  into  one  central 

11  body,  to  practice  those  virtues  that  adorn  so- 

12  ciety  and  remind  man  of  his  duty  to  his  fellow 

13  man,  the  elevation  of  his  position  and  the  main- 

14  tenance   of   the   rights    of   the   workers   to   in- 
.    15  crease  the  wages  and  improve  the  conditions  of 

16  employment  of  our  members  by  legislation,  con- 

17  ciliation,  joint  agreements  or  strikes. 

18  Sec.  3.     Whenever  twenty  or  more  persons, 

19  working  as  specified  in  Section  1  of  this  arti- 

20  cle,  shall  be  found  that  will  be  self-supporting, 

21  they  shall,  on  application,  be  granted  a  char- 

22  ter.     Provided  that  no  charter  shall  be  issued 

23  the  effect  of  which  is  to  segregate  the  crafts 

24  engaged  in  the  mining  industry. 

ARTICLE   II. 
Convention. 

25  Section  1.    This  Federation  shall  hold  its  bi- 

26  ennial  convention  on  the  third  Monday  in  July, 

27  at  such  place  as  the  convention  shall  designate 

28  before  adjournment  of  any  session  thereof. 

29  Sec.  2.     Each  union  shall  be  entitled  to  one 

30  delegate  for  one  hundred  members  or  less,  and 

31  one  for  each  additional  one  hundred  or  major- 

32  ity  fraction  thereof.    Provided,  no  delegate  shall 

33  in  any  event,  either  holding  proxy  votes  or  rep- 

34  resenting  a  union  entitled  to  a  greater  number, 

35  cast  more  than  fiv^  votes. 


1  Sec.  3.     Representation  in  the  biennial  con- 

2  vention    shall    be    based    on    the   April   report 

3  prior  to  the  holding  of  the  convention,  and  the 

4  January  report  of  each  year  shall  be  an  annual 

5  report;   provided,  in  case  a  special  convention 

6  is  held,  the  representation  shall  be  based  on 

7  the  last  m6nthly  report  prior  to  die  calling  of 

8  the  special  convention. 

9  Sec.  4.    Each  union  shall  elect  a  delegate  or 

10  delegates  and  alternates  to  attend  the  biennial 

11  convention  of  the  Federation.     Such  delegates 

12  and  alternates  shall  be  nominated  and  elected 

13  in  compliance  with  Section  1,  Article  III  of  the 

14  By-Laws,  and  said  election  of  delegates  and  al- 

15  ternates   shall   take   place   at  the   semi-annual 

16  election  of  all  local  unions,  the  first  meeting  in 

17  June.      The    alternate    delegate   shall   only   at- 

18  tend  and  be  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  convention 

19  when  the  regularly  elected  delegate  fails,  re- 

20  fuses  or  is  unable  to  be  present  to  discharge 

21  his  duties.     To  be  eligible,  a  delegate  or  alter- 

22  nate  must  be  a  bona  fide  wage  worker  in  the 

23  jurisdiction  of  his  local  union,  or  one  who  is 

24  employed  by  his   local  union,  or  the  Western 

25  Federation  of  Miners,  having  a  membership  in 

26  good    standing   in   the   Western   Federation   of 

27  Miners  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  one  year, 

28  immediately  preceding  the  date  of  his  nomina- 

29  tion;  provided,  however,  that  the  provisions  of 

30  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  the  unions  and 

31  members   thereof  which   have  been  organized 

32  for  a  length  of  time  less  than  that  mentioned 

33  herein.     Delegates  shall  present  their  creden- 

34  tials  and  have  them  passed  upon  before  taking 

35  their  seats  in  the  convention.    Delegates  in  at- 

36  tendance  at  the  convention  and  absenting  them- 

37  selves   without   permission   from   the   sessions 

38  thereof  shall  not  be  entitled  to  their  per  diem 

39  for  any  day,  or  part  of  a  day,  upon  which  they 

40  were  absent.    Duplicate  credentials  must  be  in 


1  the  hands   of  the  secretary-treasurer  at  least 

2  fifteen  days  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  con- 

3  vention.     No  local   union  shall  be  entitled  to 

4  representation  in  the  convention  which  has  not 

5  complied  with  the  constitution  of  the  Federa- 

6  tion.    All  proxy  credential  certificates  must  be 

7  sent  direct  to  the  delegates  named  thereon,  and 

8  the  duplicate  certificate  to  the  secretary-treas- 

9  urer  at  headquarters  fifteen  days  prior  to  the 

10  meeting  of  the  biennial  convention. 

11  Sec.   5.     Delegates  representing  a  majority 

12  of  the  unions  comprising  the  Federation  shall 

13  constitute  a  quorum. 

14  Sec.  6.     Ladies'  Auxiliaries  of  the  Western 

15  Federation  of  Miners  shall  be  entitled  to  one 

16  delegate  with  one  vote  for  each  auxiliary  in 

17  good  standing  and  transportation  expenses  for 

18  said  delegate  shall  be  paid  by  the  Federation. 

Pay  of  Delegates. 

19  Sec.  7.    The  pay  of  each  delegate  to  the  bi- 

20  ennial  convention  shall  not  be  less  than  $5.00 

21  per  day,  which  shall  be  paid  by  the  union  he 

22  represents. 

23  The  Federation  shall  pay  the  transportation 

24  expenses  of  one  delegate  from  each  union  in 

25  good  standing.     Any  union  electing  more  than 

26  one  delegate  shall  pay  transportation  expenses 

27  on   all   delegates   elected   above   that   number. 

28  Secretaries  of  all  local  unions  shall  insert  on 

29  credential  card  the  name  of  delegate  entitled 

30  to  mileage  at  headquarters. 

ARTICLE  III. 
Nomination  and  Election  of  Officers. 

31  Section   1.     The.  officers  of  the  Federation 

32  shall  consist  of  the  President,  Vice-President, 

33  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  four  other  Executive 

34  Board  members,  all  of  whom  shall  be  elected 

35  by  a  vote  of  the  membership. 


1  Sec.  2.     The  call,  with  blanks  for  nomina- 

2  tions,   shall  be  issued  by  the  Secretary-Treas- 

3  urer  on  the  first  day  of  March  in   each  even 

4  numbered  year.    Each  local  may  nominate  one 

5  candidate  for  each  office,  but  the  name  of  no 
.6  candidate  shall  be  placed  on  the  ballot  unless 

7  nominated  by  at  least  five  locals. 

8  Sec.    3.      The    returns    of    the    nominations 

9  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary-Treas- 

10  urer  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners  not 

11  later  than  the  15th  day  of  April;  provided,  that 

12  any  local  that  cannot  be  reached  by  mail  may 

13  use  telegraph  or  other  means  of  communica- 

14  tion. 

15  Sec.   4      The  Secretary-Treasurer  shall  im- 

16  mediately  notify  each  nominee  of  his  nomina- 

17  tion,  and  his  acceptance,  together  with  a  state- 

18  ment  certifying  to  the  eligibility  of  the  nom- 

19  inee  for  the  office  for  which  he  is  nominated 

20  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  Constitution, 

21  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary-Treas- 

22  urer  not  later  than  May  10th. 

23  Sec.  5.     The  Secretary-Treasurer  shall  send 

24  to  each  local  Union  a  sufficient  number  of  bal- 

25  lots  for  the  members  thereof  on  which  shall  be 

26  printed  in  full  the  names  of  all  eligible  candi- 

27  dates.    The  voting  shall  take  place  at  the  regu- 

28  lar  June  election  of  that  year. 

29  Sec.  6.    The  Secretaries  of  the  local  unions 

30  shall  immediately  after  election  send  the  bal- 

31  lots  and  returns  of  the   election  to  headquar- 

32  ters,  said  returns  to  be  signed  by  the  judges  of 

33  election,   countersigned   by   the   Secretary  and 

34  bear  the  seal  of  the  local  union.     The  returns 

35  shall  be  sent  to  headquarters  in  a  special  en- 

36  velope    provided    by    headquarters     on     which 

37  shall  be  printed  the  words  "Election  Returns," 

38  these  returns  and  the  ballots  to  be  held  intact 

39  until  the  convening  of  the  Convention. 

40  Sec.  7.     At  the  Convention  a  committee  of 


1  three  shall  be  elected  to  canvass  the  returns, 

2  the  ballots  to  be  held  intact  until  the  close  of 

3  the  Convention,  after  which,   if  no  contest  is 

4  made,  these  ballots  shall  be  destroyed. 

5  Sec.  8.     For  the  offices  of  President,  Vice- 

6  President  and   Secretary-Tr€asurer   the   eandi- 

7  dates   receiving   the  highest  number   of  votes 

8  for  each    of   those   respective   offices   shall   be 

9  elected,  and  the  four  candidates  for  Executive 

10  Board   members    receiving    the    four    highest 

11  number  of  votes  shall  be  declared  elected. 

12  Sec.  9.     All  officers  elected  to  be  installed 

13  at  the  Convention  or,  if  absent,  as  soon  there- 

14  after  as  possible,  and  they  shall  take  office  on 

15  the  1st  day  of  September  following. 

16  Sec.  10.     Delegates  to  the  American  Feder- 

17  ation  of  Labor  Convention  shall  be  elected  an- 

18  nually,   according   to   the   same  provisions   for 

19  the  election  of  officers  in  the  biennial  election. 

20  Sec.  11.     The  candidates  receiv- 

21  ing  the highest  number  of  votes  shall 

22  be  declared  elected. 

23  Sec.  12.     The   candidates  receiv- 

24  ing  the  next  highest  number  of  votes 

25  shall  be  declared  alternates. 

26  Sec.    13.     Delegates    to   the   American  Fed- 

27  eration  of  Labor  shall  receive  the  same  pay  as 

28  Delegates  lo  the  Western  Federation  of  Min- 

29  ers'  Convention. 

30  Sec.    14.      To    be   eligible    to    any    elective 

31  office,  or  Delegate  to  the  American  Federation 

32  of    Labor    Convention,    the    same    qualification 

33  shall    be    required    as    those   provided    in    this 

34  Constitution  for  Delegates  to  the  Western  Fed- 

35  eration  of  Miners'  Convention. 

Recall  of  Officers. 

36  Sec.   15.     On  petition  for  the  recall  of  an 

37  official   of  the   Western  Federation  of  Miners 

38  signed  by  not  less  than  ten   per  cent  of  the 


1  membership  of  the  Federation  in  good  stand- 

2  ing  from  not  less  than  ten  local  unions  of  the 

3  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  it  shall  be  the 

4  imperative    duty    of    the    Executive    Board    to 

5  call  for  a  referendum  vote  of  the  entire  mem- 

6  bership  in  the  manner  provided  for  in  Section 

7  10,  Article  IV. 

ARTICLE  IV. 
Duties  of  Officers. 


Duties  of   President. 

8  Section  1.    It  is  the  duty  of  the  President  to 

9  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Federation,  pre- 

10  serve  order,  enforce  the  constitution  and  watch 

11  vigilantly  over  the  interests  and  affairs  of  the 

12  Federation.     In  this  he  shall  be  assisted  by  all 

13  the  officers  of  the  Federation.     He  shall  have 

14  the  right  to  vote  at  the  election  of  officers,  and 

15  when  the  members  are  equally  divided  he  shall 

16  have  the  deciding  vote  on  the  question  under 

17  consideration.     He  shall  sign  all  orders  drawn 

18  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  in  compliance  with 

19  a  vote  of  the  majority  at  any  session  of  the 

20  Executive  Board.     He  shall,  with  the  approval 

21  of  the  Executive  Board,  fill  all  vacancies  occur- 

22  ring  in  the  Executive  Board,  or  in  the  offices 

23  of  Vice-President  and  Secretary-l'reasurer.    He 

24  may,  with  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Board, 

25  appoint  such  organizers  as  the  condition  of  the 

26  Federation  may  justify.     Said  organizers  shall 

27  at  all  times  act  under  the  instructions  of  the 

28  President,  and  they  shall  receive  not  less  than 

29  $100.00  per  month  for  such  time  as  they  are 

30  actually   employed,    together    with    transporta- 

31  tion  expenses,  and  they  shall  report  to  the  of- 

32  fice  of  the  Federation  in  writing  at  least  once 

33  each  week,  while  in  the  employ  of  the  Federa- 

34  ation  as  organizers.     The  President  shall  visit 

35  each  district  once  each  year,  and  visit  as  many 

36  unions  as  the  conditions  of  the  Federation  will 

8 


1  permit;  and  he  may  also  examine  the  books  of 

2  any  union  he  visits,  provided  he  has  time  so 

3  to  do,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  each  union  is 

4  paying   its    share   of   the   maintenance   of   the 

5  Federation.  He  shall  communicate  with  persons 

6  living  in  places  where  the  Federation  does  not 

7  exist,  and  have  them  organized,  if  possible.  He 

8  may  convene  the  Executive  Board  when,  in  his 

9  opinion,  the  affairs  of  the  Federation  will  justi- 

10  fy  the  same;  and  he  may,  with  the  approval  of 

11  the  Executive  Board,  call  an  extra  convention 

12  of  the  Federation,  and  he  shall,  on  the  written 

13  request  of  six  members  of  tht  Executive  Board 

14  or  on  written  request  of  ten  unions  having  a 

15  combined   membership  of  7,500,  call  an  extra 

16  convention  of  the  Federation.    He  shall  be  and 

17  he   is   hereby   constituted   the  trustee   to   sell, 

18  transfer  or  encumber  in  any  manner   and   to 

19  any  extent  that  he  deems  for  the  best  interests 

20  of  the  Federation,  any  and  all  real   and  per- 

21  sonal  property,  except  the  funds  of  the  Western 

22  Federation    of    Miners,    with    the   concurrence 

23  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Executive  Board 

24  of  the  Federation,  or  a  convention  duly  called 

25  and  assembled,  and  he  shall  execute  all  such 

26  documents  in  manner  following:     The  Western 

27  Federation  of  Miners,  by ,  Trustee. 

28  He  shall  submit  a  complete  report  of  his  work 

29  during  the  term  of  his  office  to  each  conven- 

30  tion,   and   make   such   recommendations   as  in 

31  his  judgment  will  advance  the  interests  of  the 

32  organization.      The    President    shall    have    the 

33  power,    with   the    consent    of    the    Executive 

34  Board,  to  revoke  the  charter  of  or  penalize  any 

35  local  union  for  violation  of  the  constitution  or 

36  by-laws,  or  proven  treachery  to  the  principles  of 

37  the  W^estern  Federation  of  Miners.     He  shall 

38  receive  $5.00  per  day  for  his  services,  besides 

39  such  an  additional  amount  as  may  be  neces- 

40  sary    to    defray   his    transportation    and    other 

41  expenses. 

9 


Duties  of  Vice-President. 

1  Sec.  2.     It  is  the  duty  of  the  Vice-President 

2  to   assist   the   President  to   preserve   order  at 

3  all   meetings  and  assist  him  in  the  discharge 

4  of  his  duties;   preside  during  his  absence,  and 

5  perform   the  duties  devolving  upon  the  Presi- 

6  dent;  and  in  case  of  vacancy  occurring  in  the 

7  office    of    President,    he    shall    ascend    to    the 

8  Presidency  and  act  as  such  for  the  unexpired 

9  term. 

Duties   of   Secretary-Treasurer. 

10  Sec.  3.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secre- 

11  tary-Treasurer  to  attend  all  conventions  of  the 

12  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  bring  there- 

13  to  all  the  necessary  books,  papers,  and  docu- 

14  ments   pertaining   to    his    office,   and   keep   a 

15  proper  and  correct  record  of  the  proceedings 

16  of   the   convention;    read   all  petitions,   resolu- 

17  tions  and  communications,  not  in  charge  of  a 

18  special  committee,  which  may  be  submitted  to 

19  the    Federation,    file    and    safely    keep,    unless 

20  otherwise    ordered,    all    papers    or    documents 

21  which  have  been  before  the  convention.  At  each 

22  biennial    meeting   of   the    convention   he    shall 

23  submit  a  complete  report  of  the  receipts  and 

24  disbursements  of  the  Federation  for  the  pre- 

25  ceding  year,  number  of  unions  organized,  num- 

26  ber  in  good  standing  and  the  number  of  unions 

27  disbanded,   if  any,   and  the  cause   thereof.     If 

28  ordered  by  the  convention,  he  shall  cause  to  be 

29  printed  duly   authenticated   copies  of  the  pro- 

30  ceedings   of  the  convention  and  furnish   each 

31  local  union  with  a  copy  thereof.     He  shall  pre- 

32  pare,  sign  and  seal  all  charters  and  such  other 

33  papers  and  documents  as  may  emanate  from 

34  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  which 

35  are    required    to    be    duly    authenticated.     He 

36  shall,  at  the  end  of  each  quarter,  send  a  report 

37  to  each  local  union,  showing  the  receipts,  and 

38  the  dates  thereof,  of  all  moneys  received  from 

10 


1  the  local  unions  for  the  preceding  quarter.    All 

2  moneys  coming  into  his  hands  belonging  to  the 

3  Federation  shall  be  deposited,  at  least  twice  a 

4  month,    in    some   solvent   bank   or   banks,   and 

5  shall  only  be  drawn  out  to  pay  indebtedness 

6  arising  out  of  the  due  conducting  of  the  busi- 

7  ness   of   the   Federation,   and   then   only   after 

8  a  bill  shall  have  been  first  duly  presented  by 

9  the  creditor,  when  in  payment  thereof  a  check 

10  shall  be  drawn  and  signed  by  him,  after  which 

11  he  shall  present  it,  together  with  the  bill,  to 

12  the    President   for   his    counter-signature.     He 

13  shall  have  charge  of  all  the  funds  and  property 

14  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  shall 

15  keep  a  careful  and  accurate  account  thereof,  as 

16  well  as  an  accurate  account  of  all  funds  arising 

17  out  of  the  relation  of  the  Federation  with  the 

18  local  unions,  and  whenever  money  is  received 

19  from  a  local  union,  a  receipt  therefor  must  be 

20  given  or  mailed  to  the  sender.  He  shall  prompt- 

21  ly  attend  to  all  correspondence  pertaining  to  his 

22  office,  and  within  the  first  week  in  May  of  each 

23  year  he  shall  send  to  each  union  which  is  not 

24  indebted  to  the  Federation  for  moneys,  which  it 

25  should  have  paid  under  the  Constitution,  dupli- 

26  cate  credentials  for  delegates.     Upon  the  expi- 

27  ration  of  his  term  of  office  or  retirement  from 

28  any  cause  he   shall   faithfully  account  for  all 

29  money  or  property  coming  into  his  hands  and 

30  all  funds  or  property  remaining  in  his  hands  or 

31  not  paid  out  or  disposed  of  in  the  due  course  of 

32  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  it  shall  be 

33  accounted  for  and  turned  over  to  his  successor 

34  or  such  other  person  who  may  be  duly  author- 

35  ized  to  take  into  his  custody  the  funds  or  prop- 

36  erty  of  the  Federation.    For  the  honest  and  faith- 

37  ful  discharge  of  his  duties  he  shall  give  a  bond 

38  in  the  sum  of  not  less  than  $30,000,  the  bond  so 

39  given  to  be  approved  by  the  Executive  Board 

40  and  kept  in  their  custody.    For  his  services  he 

41  shall  receive  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 

11 


1  (150)    dollars  per  month,  which  may  be  paid 

2  monthly  out  of  the  funds  of  the  Federation,  in 

3  the  same  manner  as  is  provided  for  the  pay- 

4  ment  of  other  bills  and  indebtedness.    He  shall 

5  issue  a  supplement  to  his  quarterly  report  of 

6  all  members  suspended,  fined  or  expelled  dur- 

7  ing  the  quarter. 

Executive  Board. 

8  Sec.    4.     The   Executive   Board    shall   consti- 

9  tute  the  Federation  board  of  arbitration  and 

10  conciliation,  and  between  conventions  have  full 

11  power  to   direct  the  workings  of  the  Federa- 

12  tion.     No  representative  of  a  union  shall  be  en- 

13  titled  to  a  hearing  before  the  Executive  Board 

14  without   proper   credentials,   with   the    seal   of 

15  the  union  attached  thereto. 

16  Sec.  5.     The  Executive  Board  shall  be  con- 

17  vened  by  the  President,  or  by  the  Secretary- 

18  Treasurer,  at  the  request  of  three  members  of 

19  the  Board. 

20  Sec.    6.     The    jurisdiction    of    the    Western 

21  Federation   of   Miners   shall   cover   the   United 

22  states  and  its  territories,  and  the  Dominion  of 

23  Canada. 

24  Sec.     7.     Each    member    of    the     Executive 

25  Board  shall  act  as  an  organizer  and  he  shall 

26  also   be   required   to   make   such  investigation 

27  relative   to   the  condition  of  each  local  union 

28  as  in  his  judgment  may  be  necessary,  and  make 

29  a  report  thereof  to  the  President  of  the  Feder- 

30  ation  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of  June  of  each 

31  year.     In  case  of  trouble  arising  in  the  juris- 

32  diction  of  a  union,  the  member  shall  be  sum- 

33  moned  and  given  full  charge  in  the  direction 

34  or  negotiations  until  the  arrival  of  the  Presi- 

35  dent,  who  shall  be  summoned  if  necessary.  For 

36  all  necessary  services  rendered  in  the  discharge 

37  of  his  duties,  he  shall  receive  the  sum  of  $4.00 

38  per  day  and  legitimate  expenses  for  such  time 

39  as  he  is  actually  employed,  together  with  his 

12 


1  transportation   expenses,    and   he   shall   at   all 

2  times  be  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  President. 

3  Sec.     8.     The     Executive     Board     members 

4  shall  be  placed  on  continuous  pay,  and  kept  in 

5  the  field  constantly,  and  be  at  all  times  under 

6  the  direction  of  the  President,  who  shall  direct 

7  their   actions   in   the   field,    and   shall   require 

8  each  member  to  report  weekly  the  result  of  his 

9  work,  and  to  audit  the  books  of  all  locals  he 

10  may  visit  and  make  a  thorough  report  on  con- 

11  dition  of  same. 

12  Sec.     9.    All     members     of     the     Executive 

13  Board,   and  organizers   employed   by  the  Fed- 

14  eration  shall  submit  monthly  reports  for  publi- 

15  cation  in  the  Miners'  Magazine,  these  reports 

16  to  contain  matters  of  interest  to  the  general 

17  organization. 

18  See.  10.     The  Executive  Board  shall,  on  de- 

19  mand  of  ten  or  more  locals,  submit  all  such 

20  matters  pertaining  to  such  proposition  to  a  ref- 

21  erendum  vote  through  the  Secretary-Treasurer, 

22  not  later  than  fifteen  days  after  receipt  thereof; 

23  provided  that  no  such  referendum  shall  be  sub- 

24  mitted  which  is  a  reversal  of  a  former  refer- 

25  endum  within  one  year.     The  majority  of  such 

26  vote  shall  be  binding  on  all  parties  concerned. 

27  Sec.     11.     The     Executive    Board     Members 

28  shall  be  delegates  at  large  to  the  convention 

29  and   entitled  to  the   same   privileges   as  other 

30  delegates  at  the  convention. 

ARTICLE   V. 
Auditors. 

31  Section  1.     The  President  shall  appoint,  with 

32  the   approval  of  the  Executive  Board,  one  or 

33  more  auditors  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  audit 

34  the  books   and  accounts  of  all  unions  of  the 

35  Federation,  and  to  render  to  the  President  a 

36  report  of  his  findings  in  each  case. 

37  Sec.   2.     Such  auditor  shall  be  at  all  times 

13 


1  under  the  direction  of  the  President.    He  must 

2  be  a  competent  bookkeeper  and  a  member  of 

3  the  Federation  in  good  standing.     It  shall  also 

4  be  his  duty  to  collect  for  the  use  of  the  Fed- 

5  eration  such  statistics  as  may  be   determined 

6  by    the    President    and    Executive    Board    and 

7  whenever    possible    solicit    subscriptions    and 

8  advertising  for  the  Miners'  Magazine. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Revenues  and  Disbursements. 

9  Section   1.     The   revenue   of  the  Federation 

10  shall  be  derived  from  a  charter  fee  of  ten  dol- 

11  lars  and  a  per  capita  tax  of  twenty-five  cents 

12  per   month   on   all   monthly   dues   collected   in 

13  accordance  with  the  stamp  system,  to  be  paid 

14  from  the  general  fund  of  each  union  through 

15  the  purchase  of  said   stamps  in  advance,  and 

16  in  case  of  emergency  such  assessments,  as  in 

17  the  judgment  of  the  Executive  Board  or  con- 

18  vention  may  be  necessary,   the  same  shall  be 

19  paid  from  the  general  fund,  and  based  on  the 

20  preceding  monthly  report  previous  to  such  as- 

21  sessment. 

22  Sec.    .     Any    union    failing    to    purchase    the 

23  required  number  of  per  capita  and  assessment 

24  stamps  to  stamp  all  membership  cards,  in  com- 

25  pliance  with  the  stamp  system,  shall  be  penal- 

26  ized  as  prescribed  by  Section  1,  Article  X. 

ARTICLE   VII. 
Official  Journal. 

27  Section    1.     The    Journal    shall    be    issued 

28  weekly    under    the    direct    supervision    of    the 

29  General  Executive  Board.  The  Executive  Board 

30  shall  have  the  power  to  appoint  the  Editor  of 

31  the  Miners'  Magazine. 

32  Sec.    2.     The    pages    of    the    official    journal 

33  shall  be  open  to  all  officers  and  members  of 

34  the   organization   for   the   discussion   of   social 

14 


1  affairs,  industrial,  economic  and  political  ques- 

2  tions,  or  any  other  questions  pertaining  to  the 

3  interest  of  the  working-class.  It  shall  endeavor 

4  to  enlighten  the  membership  of  the  organiza- 

5  tion  on  the  cost  of  production  of  the  various 

6  kinds    of   metals,    viz.:    iron,    steel,    lead,    zinc 

7  and   copper,    and    its    market   value.     It    shall 

8  endeavor  to  give  statistics  showing  what  wages 

9  are    being    paid    to    the   miners,    millmen   and 

10  smeltermen  and  steel  workers  in  the  different 

11  states  and  territories  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

12  Western  Federation  of  Miners.    It  further  shall 

13  endeavor   to   demonstrate  what  relation  there 

14  exists  between  one  set  of  workers  and  another 

15  set  of  workers,  especially  those  workers  who 

16  are   engaged   in   the   production   of  coal,   iron, 

17  steel,  lead,  zinc  and  copper,  and  other  precious 

18  metals,  and  it  shall  at  all  times  advocate  the 

19  principles  of  Industrial  Uni®nism. 

ARTICLE  VIM. 
Strikes  and  Adjustments. 

20  Section    1.     It    shall    be    unlawful    for    any 

21  union   to   enter   upon  a   strike  unless  ordered 

22  by  two-thirds  of  the  votes  cast  upon  the  ques- 

23  tion;   such  questions  shall  be  decided  by  refer- 

24  endum  vote,  notice  of  such  referendum  to  be 

25  posted  three   days   in  advance,  vote  to  be  by 

26  ballot  and  polls  to  be  open  for  not  less  than 

27  eight    hours.     No    call    shall    be    made    for    a 

28  referendum  vote  on  a  strike  until  after  having 

29  received  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Board 

30  of  the  W.  F.  M. 

31  Sec.  2.     In  case  of  a  strike  being  in  progress 

32  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federation,  where  a 

33  union  or  unions  of  the  Federation  is  on  strike, 

34  regularly  ordered  by  the  union  or  unions  and 

35  the  Executive  Board,  and  in  the  opinion  of  the 

36  President  and  the  Executive  Board  it  becomes 

37  necessary  to  call  out  any  other  union  or  unions 

15 


1  in  order   to   carry   the   strike   to   a   successful 

2  termination,  that  they  shall  have  full  power  to 

3  do  so. 

4  Sec.  3.     Whenever  a  strike  shall  be  approved 

5  by    the    Executiv-e   Board   and   local   union   or 

6  unions  as  authorized  by  Section  1  of  Article 

7  VIII,  the  President  shall  appoint,  with  the  con- 

8  sent  of  the  Executive  Board,  a  representative 

9  of  the  Federation  to  take  charge  of  the  funds 

10  furnished  by  the  Federation  for  the  relief  of 

11  members   involved   in   said   strike   or   lockout. 

12  The  representative  so  chosen  shall  file  a  bond 

13  with  the  Executive  Board,   subject   to  its   ap- 

14  proval,  in  such  sum  or  sums  as  the  Board  may 

15  determine,   he   shall   make   complete   itemized 

16  returns   of   all   receipts   and   expenditures,    in- 

17  eluding  a  list  of  the  persons  aided  to  the  Sec- 

18  retary-Treasurer  and  through  him  to  the  Ex- 

19  ecutive  Board. 

20  Sec.    4.     Local    unions    or    groups    of    local 

21  unions  may  enter  into  wage  agreements  for  a 

22  specified  time,  providing  such  agreements  have 

23  the  approval  of  the   Executive  Board.     Nego- 

24  tiations  for  agreements  must  be  made  between 

25  the  representative  of  the  local  or  locals  affect- 

26  ed,  and  the  employers,  with  at  least  one  mem- 

27  ber  of  the  Executive  Board,  or  representative 

28  of  the  general  organization  present. 

ARTICLE   IX. 
New  Unions. 

29  Section  1.     Whenever  twenty  or  more  non- 
30  union  or  union  men  shall  be  so  situated  within 

31  the  jurisdiction  of  a  union  that  the  attendance 

32  at  the  meetings  of  such  union  would  be  incon- 

33  venient,  they  may  apply  to  the  President  of  the 

34  Federation  for  a  charter.     Should  he  consider 

35  their  application  a  proper  one  for  the  advance- 

36  ment,  both  of  the  interests  of  the  applicants  and 

37  the  Federation,  a  charter  shall  be  granted  them 

16 


1  and  their  territorial  jurisdiction  defined.  If 
'2  such  applicants  are  members  they  must  apply 
8  to  their  respective  unions  for  transfer  cards, 

4  through  the  secretary-elect.     Any  union  refus- 

5  ing  to  issue  such  cards  shall  be  subject  to  a 

6  fine,  the  amount  of  which  shall  be  determined 

7  by  the  Executive  Board. 

ARTICLE   X. 

Penalties. 

8  Section  1.     Any  union  failing  to  make  cor- 

9  rect  monthly   reports   to   the  Secretary-Treas- 

10  urer   of   the    Federation,    thereby    evading    its 

11  just  share  of  the  per  capita  tax  and  assess- 

12  ments,  shall  be  fined  for  each  offense  a  sum 

13  equal  to  double  the  amount  so  evaded. 

14  Sec.    2.    Any    local   union    whose    Secretary 

15  fails  to  place  the  required  number  of  per  capita 

16  or   general   assessment   stamps   upon   a   mem- 

17  ber's  card  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  one  dol- 

18  lar  for  each  stamp  not  so  placed. 

19  Sec.    3.     Any   local    union    whose   Secretary 

20  fails  to  forward  to  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of 

21  the  Federation  properly  filled  out  monthly  and 

22  annual   reports   within   twenty  days   after   the 

23  same  become  due,  shall  be  advertised  in  the 

24  Miners'  Magazine.     This  section  shall  not  apply 

25  to  local  unions  in  Alaska. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

Duties  and  Privileges  of  IVIembers. 

26  Section  1.     Each  member  at  initiation  shall 

27  pledge  himself  to  support  the  Constitution  of 

28  the  Federation  and  obey  all  lawful  orders  of 

29  the  Executive  Board,  in  addition  to  the  obli- 

30  gation  required  by  the  union  of  which  he  be- 

31  comes  a  member. 

32  Sec.  2.     If  a  member  of  a  union  commits  an 

33  offense  in  violation  of  his  obligation  or  against 

34  the  good   and  welfare  of  the   Federation,  his 

17 


1  union  or  any  union  of  the  Western  Federation. 

2  of  Miners,  the  general  officers,  members  of  the 

3  Executive  Board,  or  any  members  of  the  Fed- 

4  eration,  or  in  violation  of  the  Constitution  and 

5  By-Laws  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners, 

6  or  affiliated  unions,  he  shall  be  entitled  to  an 

7  impartial  trial  by  his  local  union  as  hereinafter 

8  provided.     The  offense  of  which  he  is  charged 

9  shall  be  presented  in  writing  to  his  local  union 

10  by  the  members  making  the  charge  who  at  the 

11  time  must  be  a  member  of  the  Western  Feder- 

12  ation  of  Miners  in  good  standing,  said  charges 

13  shall  be   read  bj^  the   Recording  Secretary  of 

14  the  union,  at  the  first  regular  meeting  of  the 

15  union  after  the  paper  containing  the  charges 

16  are  received.     W^hen  said  charges  are  read  the 

17  President  shall,  without  discussion,  appoint  an 

18  impartial   committee   of   five   members    of   the 

19  union    in    good    standing    to    investigate    such 

20  charges   whose   duty   it  shall  be  to   present  a 

21  copy   of   the   charges   to    the   member   against 

22  whom   the   charges   have   been   preferred,   and 

23  notify  him  when   to  appear   before   said   com- 

24  mittee  for  trial.     Similar  notice  shall  be  served 

25  upon  the  member  preferring  the  charges.  This 

26  committee  shall  elect  a  chairman  and  secretary 

27  before    proceeding    to    hear    evidence    for    the 

28  plaintiff  and  defendant  and  keep  a  correct  copy 

29  of  the  charges  and  all  testimony  presented  and 

30  submit  the  same  to  the  union  with  their  writ- 

31  ten  report  signed  by  all  members  of  the  com- 

32  mittee.     The  union  shall  either  adopt  or  reject 

33  the  report  of  the  committee.     Either  the  plain- 

34  tiff  or  defendant  shall  have  the  right  to  appeal 

35  to  the  Executive  Board  of  the  Western  Feder- 

36  ation  of  Miners  and  from  that  body  to  the  en- 

37  suing  convention.     The  Executive  Board  shall 

38  receive    no   evidence    in    the    case   except   the 

39  records  of  "the  committee  nor  permit  any  wit- 

40  ness  to  appear  for  the  plaintiff  or  defendant. 

41  Should  the  union  fail  to  preserve  the  records 

18 


1  of  the  investigation  as  returned  by  the  com- 

2  mittee  or  refuse  to  surrender  the  same  to  the 

3  Executive   Board,  upon   request  of  the  Secre- 

4  tary-Treasurer  it  shall  be  subject  to  whatever 

5  penalty  the  Executive  Board  may  deem  neces- 

6  cessary  to  impose  upon  it. 

7  Sec.  3.     The  convention  shall  have  the  power 

8  to  bring  any  ofRicial  of  the  Federation,   dele- 

9  gate,  or  member  of  the  Federation  before  the 

10  bar  of  the  convention  for  trial.     The  conven- 

11  tion    shall    choose    its    method    of    procedure, 

12  have    full    power    to    record    and    enforce    its 

13  verdict.     From  its  decision  there  shall  be  no 

14  appeal. 

15  Sec.  4.     Any  one  acting  as  a  strike-breaker 

16  or  scab  during  a  strike  in  the  jurisdiction  of 

17  the  Western   Federation   of   Miners,   who   pro- 

18  f esses  to  have  seen  the  error  of  his  ways,  may 

19  be  placed  on  probation  by  the  local  union  in- 

20  volved,  or  by  any  local  union  in  whose  juris- 

21  diction  he  may  be  employed  when  such  charges 

22  are  preferred  against  him,  provided  the  local 

23  involved     grants    permission;     provided,     that 

24  this  shall  in   no  way  apply  to   any  man  who 

25  has  been  a  deputy  sheriff  or  gun  man  in  the 

26  employ   of  any   corporation.     Such   men   shall 

27  remain   on   probation   until   such   time   as   the 

28  local  union,  in  whose  jurisdiction  he  is  work- 

29  ing    out    his    probation,    shall    declare    his    of- 

30  fense   expiated   in   full   by   good   work  for  the 

31  cause. 

32  In  case  of  a  union  being  defunct,  the  Execu- 

33  tive    Officers    of    the    Western    Federation    of 

34  Miners    shall    be    governed    by    this    provision. 

35  The  card  issued  on  probation  shall  be  marked 

36  "probation  card." 

37  Sec.  5.     Whenever  any  member  or  members 

38  of  a  local  union  shall  be  discharged  for  actively 

39  participating  in  the  affairs  of  the  local  union, 

40  or  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  or  on 

41  account  of  his  race,  color,  religious  or  political 

19 


1  beliefs,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  local  union 

2  to  investigate  fully  and  use  all  means  in  their 

3  power  to  have  such  member  or  members   re- 

4  instated  in  their  former  positions. 

5  Sec.  6.     Whenever  any  local  or  district  union 

6  shall  enter  into  any  agreement  or  contract  with 

7  their   employers,    the    principles^  embodied    in 

8  Section  5  of  this  article  shall  be  made  a  part 

9  of  such  agreement  or  contract. 

10  Sec.    7.     Whenever    a    member    of    a    local 

11  union  shall  become  a  foreman,  shift  boss  or 

12  assume  a   position  that  cannot  be  termed  as 

13  part  of  the  mining  industry,  he  shall  lose  all 

14  rights  to  a  voice,  vote  or  seat  in  the  meetings 

15  of  his  local  union,  but  may  continue  his  mem- 

16  bership  as  a  beneficiary  member,  or  upon  ap- 

17  plication   to   the   Financial   Secretary  he   may 

18  be  granted  a  withdrawal  card. 

ARTICLE  XII. 
Legislation. 

19  Section    1.     The    initiative    and    referendum 

20  shall  govern  all  legislation.     Whenever  a  local 

21  in  good  standing  , delegate  or  delegation  in  con- 

22  vention   shall,   by  resolution,   offer  an  amend- 

23  ment  to  the  Constitution  and  By-laws,  the  same 

24  shall   be    considered    in   the   biennial   conven- 

25  tion,  and  by  that  body  submitted  to  the  mem- 

26  bers  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  who 

27  shall  vote   upon  the   same  within   sixty  days. 

28  All  locals  voting  on  a  referendum  shall  use — 

29  First:     A  blank  record  sheet  for  the  names 

30  of  all  members  voting; 

31  Second:     Printed  ballots  with  the  questions 

32  fully  stated  upon  them,  with  the  spaces,  so  as 

33  to  vote  for  or  against  any  question; 

34  Third:     That    envelopes    containing    record 

35  sheets  with  names,  report  blanks,  with  totals 

36  of    votes    cast    for    or    against    all    questions, 

37  should  contain  no  other  matter,  and  the  word 

J 
20 


1  "referendum"  should  be  marked  upon  the  en- 

2  velope,  and  the  same  shall  not  be  opened  until 

3  the    date    set   for    compiling    the   votes    of   all 

4  locals. 

5  After  having  received  the  approval  of  a  ma- 

6  jority  of  the  members  voting  upon  the   ques- 

7  tion,  it  shall  receive  the  signature  of  the  Presi- 

8  dent  and  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  becomes  a 

9  part  of  the  organic  law.     The  Secretary-Treas- 

10  urer  shall  canvass  the  vote  on  all  referendum 

11  questions  and  make  up  a  return  sheet,  setting 

12  forth  the  vote  of  each  local,   and   furnish   all 

13  locals  with  a  copy  of  the  same. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

Emergencies. 

14  Section   1.    Whenever  a  vital  circumstance, 

15  not  otherwise  provided  for,  arises  and  the  same 

16  cannot  in  justice  be  deferred  until  the  assem- 

17  bling  of  the  convention,  the  Executive  Board 

18  may  submit  any  important  question  so  arising 

19  to  a  referendum   vote   of  the   entire  member- 

20  ship  in  good  standing,  in  the  manner  described 

21  in  Section  1,  Article  XII.    The  majority  of  such 

22  vote  to  govern  in  all  cases  submitted. 

23  Sec.  2..     Whenever  a  proposition  of  vital  im- 

24  portance  presents  itself  to  the  membership  of 

25  the  W.  F.  M.,  not  otherwise  provided  for,  the 

26  Executive  Board   shall,   on   demand  of  ten  or 

27  more  locals,  submit  all  such  matters  pertaining 

28  to    such    proposition    to    a    referendum    vote 

29  through  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  not  later  than 

30  fifteen    days    after    receipt    thereof;    provided 

31  that  no   such   referendum   shall  be   submitted 

32  which   is   a  reversal   of   a  former   referendum 

33  within  one  year.     The  majority  of  such  vote 

34  shall  be  binding  on  all  parties  concerned. 

35  Sec.     3.     This     constitution     shall     not     be 

36  amended  except  by  a  majority  vote  of  all  dele- 

37  gates  assembled  in  convention  or  by  initiative 

i 
21 


1  petition  of  at  least  ten  locals  of  this  organiza- 

2  tion,  representing  at  least  five  per  cent  of  the 

3  whole  membership,   the  same  to  be  approved 

4  by  referendum  vote  as  described  in  Section  1, 

5  Article  XII. 


22 


BY-LAWS 


ARTICLE   I. 

i 
Receipts  and  Accounts. 

1  Sec.   1.     Local  unions  shall  preserve  all  re- 

2  ceipts  issued  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer  and 

3  have  the  same  presented  to  the  finance  com- 

4  mittee    at    the    biennial    convention,    through 

5  their  delegates  to  the  convention,  in  order  to 

6  compare  them  with  the  stub  book  of  the  Sec- 

7  retary-Treasurer. 

Password. 

8  Sec.    2.     The    President   shall   send   to    each 

9  union  which  has  paid  per  capita  tax  and  is  not 

10  ninety  days  in  arrears  for  assessments,  a  quar- 

11  terly  password. 

Membership  Card. 

12  Sec.   3.     Throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

13  Western  Federation  of  Miners  a  uniform  mem- 

14  bership  Card  shall  be  used.    The  same  shall  be 

15  the  stamp  card  system,  approved  by  the  Tenth 

16  and  amended  by  the  Sixteenth  Annual  Conven- 

17  tion;    the  form   and  style  of  said  cards   shall 

18  provide  a  space  wherein  local  Secretaries  shall 

19  record  the  amount  of  sick  benefits  received  by 

20  each  member.     Said  card  shall  be  designed  by 

21  the  Executive  Officers  of  the  Western  Federa- 

22  tion  of  Miners. 

Withdrawal  Cards. 

23  Sec.    4.     Tf   a    member    takes    a    withdrawal 

24  card  from  the  union  to  which  he  belongs  and 

23 


1  goes  to  work  as  specified  in  Section  1,  Article 

2  1,  of  the  Constitution,  where  there  is  a  union 

3  of  the  Federation,  he  shall  at  once  deposit  his 

4  card  in  that  union;  failing  to  do  so,  he  shall  be 

5  held  for  dues  and  assessments  from  the  time 

6  he  starts  to  work  by  the  union  within  whose 

7  jurisdiction  he  may  be  employed. 

8  Sec.  5.     No  withdrawal  card  shall  be  issued 

9  to  any  member  of  the  W.  P.  M.  except  such 

10  members  who  are  actually  engaged  in  some  oc- 

11  cupation  not  included  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

12  W.  F.  M.,  or  one  who  permanently  retires  from 

13  the    occupation    specified   in   Article   I   of   the 

14  Constitution.     All  dues  and  assessments  must 

15  be  paid  for  the  month  in  which  the  withdrawal 

16  card  is  issued. 

17  Sec.  6.     Local  unions  of  the  Federation  shall 

18  have   full   jurisdiction   over   all   members   who 

19  are  permanent  residents  of  their  local  districts, 

20  subject,   however,    to   the   right   of   appeal   de- 

21  scribed   in   Section  2,  Article  XI,   of  the   Con- 

22  stitution. 

23  Sec.    7.     Local   unions   shall  have   power   to 

24  name   the   amount   to   be   collected  as   a   rein- 

25  statement   fee    from    members    six   months    or 

26  more  in  arrears  for  dues  and  assessments. 

27  Sec.   8.     Secretaries   shall  place  due  stamps 

28  on  members'  cards  for  back  dues  collected  for 

29  reinstatement  or  otherwise. 

Interchangeable  Cards. 

30  Sec.  9.     Transfer  cards  and  withdrawal  cards 

31  issued    by    any    chartered    labor    organization 

32  shall  be  accepted  by  local  unions  of  the  West- 

33  ern  Federation  of  Miners,  subject  to  the  rules 

34  and  qualifications  governing  members  of  such 

35  locals  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners. 

Transfer. 

36  Sec.   10.     Any  member  leaving  the  jurisdic- 

37  tion  of  his  union  and  going  to  work  in  the  juris- 

24 


1  diction  of  another  union  of  the  P-ederation  shall 

2  immediately  deposit  his  membership  card  with 

3  the  Financial  Secretary  and  pay  up  all  arrear- 

4  ages.     The  Financial  Secretary  receiving  the 

5  member's    card    shall    immediately   notify    the 

6  union  of  which  the  member  has  a  card,  so  that 

7  the  member's  account  can  be  closed  in  the  for- 

8  mer  union;    and  the  failure  upon  the  part  of 

9  the    Financial    Secretary    to    notify   the   union 

10  within  fifteen  days  shall  subject  him  to  a  fine 

11  of  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor  more  than  five. 

12  All  arrearages  collected    (other  than  local  as- 

13  sessments)    shall   belong  to  the   union   receiv- 

14  ing  the  membership  card  and  all  advance  dues 

15  which  may  have  been  paid  shall  be  remitted; 

16  provided,  however,  that  no  advance  dues  shall 

17  be  requested  for  the  month  in  which  transfer 

18  is  made.    Any  member  in  good  standing  trans- 

19  ferring  from  one  local  to  another,  upon  signing 

20  the   Constitution,   shall   be  entitled   to   all   the 

21  rights  and  benefits  of  that  local. 

22  Sec.    11.     Any   member   working   within   the 

23  jurisdiction  of  a  local  union  and  refusing  to  de- 

24  posit  his  card,  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  not 

25  less  than  $1.00  nor  more  than  $50.00,  said  fine 

26  to  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  local  union. 

27  Sec.  12.     When  a  member  of  a  local  union 

28  goes  to  work  within  the  jurisdiction  of  another 

29  and  refuses  to  deposit  his  card,  it  shall  be  its 

30  duty  to  place  a  fine  against  him  and  suspend 

31  him  from  any  benefits  whatsoever.    Any  Secre- 

32  tary  accepting  dues  from  a  member  who  is  in 

33  the  jurisdiction  of  another  local  shall  be  sub- 

34  ject  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $1.00  nor  more 

35  than  $5.00. 

ARTICLE   II. 
Supplies. 

36  Section   1.     All   withdrawal   and   notification 

37  cards  of  the  Federation  shall  be  made  of  uni- 

38  form  size,  with  stub  attachment. 

25 


1  Sec.    2.     The    Federation    has    adopted,    for 

2  the  sake  of  uniformity,  the  following  supplies, 

3  which  must  be  procured  from  the  Secretary- 

4  Treasurer,  except  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 

5  where  blanks  shall  be  printed  to  conform  with 

6  the  laws  and  usages  of  that  country,  as  well 

7  as   in   conformity   with   this   Constitution,   and 

8  that  the  same  may  be  printed  in  the  Dominion 

9  of    Canada,    viz.:       Constitutions,    withdrawal 

10  cards,     notification     cards,     quarterly     report 

11  blanks,  blank  bonds  for  officers  of  unions,  ap- 

12  plication   blanks,    ledger,    day   book   and   cash 

13  book,  and  that  it  be  imperative  on  the  part  of 

14  all  locals  to  use  this  system  of  bookkeeping. 

15  Provided,  all  membership  cards  and  the  auth- 

16  orized  metal  emblem  of  the  Federation  shall  be 

17  procured  from  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the 

18  Federation. 

ARTICLE   Mi. 

Nominations,   Elections  and   Installations  of 
Officers. 

19  Sec.     1.     Nominations    of    officers    in    local 

20  unions  shall  be  made  from  the  floor.     Nomina- 

21  tions  shall  remain  open  for  three  regular  meet- 

22  ings   prior  to   election,   when  each   Recording 

23  Secretary    shall,    within    ten    days    thereafter, 

24  forward  the  names  of  all  officers  elected  to  the 

25  Secretary-Treasurer    of    the    Federation,    who 

26  shall    compile    a    directory    of   the    same    and 

27  forward   a   copy  of   these   directories   to   each 

28  local   union.     It   shall   be   optional   with    each 

29  local  union  as  to  whether  it  shall  hold  annual 

30  or  semi-annual   elections.     Installation  of  offi- 

31  cers  for  local  unions  shall  not  take  place  until 

32  the  first  meeting  in  July  or  in  January. 

Balloting. 

33  Sec.  2.     All  unions  shall,  on  the  demand  of 

34  five  or  more  members  in  good  standing,  take  a 

26 


1  secret  ballot  upon  any  question  coming  before 

2  the  union. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Jurisdiction. 

3  Section   1.     The  jurisdiction  of   the  Federa- 

4  tion  shall  extend  to  all  states  and  territories 

5  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada  as  described  in 

6  Section  6,  Article  IV,  of  the  Constitution. 

District   Unions. 

7  Sec.  2.     Where  a  majority  of  members  vot- 

8  ing  in  a  district  or  state  deem  it  necessary, 

9  they  may  organize  a  district  or  state  union  for 

10  the  purpose  of  doing  business  for  the  district 

11  or  state.     Such  unions  shall  apply  to  the  Fed- 

12  eration  for,  and  receive  a  special  charter,  said 

13  charter  to  be  issued  at  cost.     Such  district  or 

14  state  union  shall  be  subordinate  to  the  Feder- 

15  ation,  but  shall  be  a  higher  authority  than  the 

16  local  unions  of  the  Federation  in  its  jurisdic- 

17  tion.     All  local  unions  of  the  J^ederation  with- 

18  in  the  jurisdiction  of  a  district  or  state  union 

19  shall    be   a   member   of   said   district   or   state 

20  union  and  recognize  the  authority  of  same. 

Defunct   Unions. 

21  Sec.  3.     When  any  local  union  has  a  mem- 

22  bership    of    less    than    ten    members    in    good 

23  standing,  the  charter  of  such  local  may  be  con- 

24  sidered  defunct,  and  surrender  its  charter  and 

25  books  to  the  Federation;   and  any  member  of 

26  the   said   union   becoming   desirous   of  joining 

27  another   union   of   the   Western   Federation  of 

28  Miners  shall,  by  paying  the  dues  and  assess- 

29  ments  he  owed  in  his  former  union  up  to  the 

30  time  the  books  were  turned  over  to  the  Fed- 

31  eration,  be  transferred  to  the  union  to  which 

32  he  makes  application. 

27 


1  Sec.  4.     The  property  of  defunct  unions  shall 

2  be  held  in  trust  hy  the  Federation,  and  where 

3  local  unions   are  reorganized  within  a  period 

4  of   one    year,    comprising    of    twenty   or    more 

5  members  of  the  former  local  the  property  so 

6  held  in  trust  shall  be  returned  to  the  reorgan- 

7  ized  local,  but  when  the  locals  are  reorganized 

8  with  less  than  twenty  members  of  the  former 

9  local,  they  shall  have  no  claim  on  the  property 

10  of  the  defunct  union.    At  the  expiration  of  one 

11  year  from  the  date  of  the  local  going  defunct, 

12  the  property  shall  cease  to  be  held  in  trust  and 

13  become  the  property  of  the  Federation. 

14  Sec.  5.     Where  two  or  more  locals  are  situ- 

15  ated  in  the  same  locality  or  district,  and  one  or 

16  more  locals  become  weakened  by  loss  of  mem- 

17  bers   or   otherwise,   they   may,   by   a   majority 

18  vote  of  each  local  interested,  consolidate.     All 

19  money  and  property  shall  belong  to  the  union 

20  so  consolidated,  except  the  charter  or  charters 

21  of  the  locals  ceasing  to  exist,  said  charters  to 

22  be    forwarded    to    headquarters    immediately. 

23  The  unions  so  consolidated  shall  be  held  for 

24  all  existing  indebtedness. 

ARTICLE  V. 

25  Section   1.     Each   local   Financial   Secretary 

26  must  keep  a  record  of  all  members  that  are 

27  expelled  from  local  unions,  and  when  a  person 

28  is   proposed  for   admittance  into  any  local  of 

29  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  the  Finan- 

30  cial   Secretary  must  first  look  at  the  list  re- 

31  ported  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Fed- 

32  eration  and  then  report  to  his  union  the  result 

33  of  his  investigation. 

Correspondence. 

34  Sec.   2.     Each   Secretary   of  the  local  union 

35  shall  be   required  to  keep  a  copy  of  all  cor- 

36  respondence  in  a  copying  book  suitable  for  that 

37  purpose. 

28 


ARTICLE  VI. 
Fines  and  Penalties. 

1  Section  1.     Any  member  who  is  under  the 

2  influence  of  liquor,  appearing  as  a  delegate  at 

3  any  convention  of  the  Western  Federation  of 

4  Miners,  or  failing  to  answer  roll  call  without 

5  being  excused  by  the  President,  shall  be  fined 
G  for  the  first  offense  the  sum  of  one  dollar;  for 

7  the  second  offense  the  sum  of  two  dollars;  for 

8  the  third  offense  the  sum  of  five  dollars,  and 

9  any  delegate  or  delegates  who  shall  have  been 

10  guilty  of  such  an  offense  shall  be  censured  and 

11  reprimanded  by  the  President,  and  the  union 

12  to  which  he  or  they  may  belong  shall  be  noti- 

13  fied  of  his  action. 


ORDER  OF  BUSINESS 

1.  Call  the  meeting  to  order. 

2.  Warden,  secure  the  door. 

3.  Presentation  of  credentials. 

4.  Appointment  of  committees. 

5.  Roll  call. 

6.  Reading  of  minutes  of  previous  meeting. 

7.  Communications  and  correspondence. 

8.  Bills. 

9.  Reports  of  officers. 

10.  Reports  of  standing  committees. 

11.  Special  committees. 

12.  Unfinished  business. 

13.  New  business. 

14.  Election  of  officers. 

15.  Good  and  welfare  of  the  Federation. 

16.  Installation  of  officers. 

17.  Adjournment. 

29 


RULES  OF  ORDER 


1  During   the   continuance   of   the    meeting   si- 

2  lence  must  be  observed,  the  officers  and  mem- 

3  bers   retaining  their   respective   seats,  and  no 

4  one   leaving    the    room   without   permission   of 

5  the  President  or  Vice-President. 

6  No  member  shall,  by  conversation  or  other- 

7  wise,  interrupt  the  business  of  the  Federation 

8  or  refuse  to  obey  the  chair. 

9  The    President,    while    presiding,    will    state 

10  every  question  coming  before  the  Federation, 

11  and   immediately   before   putting   it  to   a  vote 

12  shall  ask:     "Are  you  ready  for  the  question?" 

13  Should  no  member  rise  to  speak,  or  by  silence 

14  indicate  their  readiness,  he  shall  rise  to  state 

15  the  question,  and  after  he  has  risen  no  member 

16  shall  be  permitted  to  speak  upon  it.     He  shall 

17  announce  the  result  or  decision  of  the  Feder- 

18  ation  upon  all  subjects. 

19  Every  member,  when  he  speaks  or  offers  a 

20  motion,  shall  rise  and  respectfully  address  the 

21  presiding  officer.     While  speaking  he  shall  con- 

22  fine  himself  to  the  subject  under  debate,  avoid- 

23  ing  all  personalities  and  indecorous  language, 

24  as  well  as  any  reflections  upon  the  union  or  its 

25  members. 

26  Should  two  or  more  members  rise  to  speak 

27  at  the  same  time,  the  chair  shall  decide  who  is 

28  entitled  to  the  floor. 

29  No    member    shall    disturb    another    in    his 

30  speech  unless  to  call  him  to  order  for  words 

31  spoken. 

32  If  a  member,  while  speaking,  shall  be  called 

33  to  order,  at  the  request  of  the  chair,  he  shall 

34  cease    speaking   and   take   his    seat    until   the 

30 


1  question  of  order  is  determined,  when,  if  per- 

2  mitted,  he  may  again  proceed. 

3  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  once  on 

4  the  same  question  until  all  the  members  wish- 

5  ing  to  speak  shall  have  had  the  opportunity  to 

6  do  so,  nor  more  than  twice  without  the  per- 

7  mission  of  the  chair. 

8  When  any  communication,  petition  or  mem- 

9  orial   is   presented,   before   it   is   read   a   brief 

10  statement  of  its  contents  shall  be  made  by  the 

11  introducer  to  the  chair. 

12  No  motion  shall  be  subject  to  action  unless 

13  seconded  and  stated  by  the  chair. 

14  Any   member  may  call  for  a  division  on  a 

15  question  when  the  sense  will  admit  it. 

16  When   a   question   is   before   the   Federation 

17  no  motion  shall  be  received  unless  to  close,  the 

18  previous  question,  to  lay  on  the  table,  to  post- 
19  pone  indefinitely,  to  refer,  to  amend,  and  shall 

20  have  precedence  in  the  order  herein  arranged 

21  — the    first    three    of    which    shall    be    decided 

22  without  debate. 

23  After  any  question,  except  one  of  indefinite 

24  postponement  or  one  the  result  of  which  the 

25  Federation  cannot  reverse,  has  been  decided, 
,  26  any  member  who  voted  in  the  majority  may,  at 
'  27  the    same    meeting    move    a    reconsideration 

28  thereof. 
.,  29       No    amendments    shall    be    received    except 
to  they  are  in  writing. 

All   questions  not  provided  for  by  the  Con- 

^2  stitution,  By-Laws,  Rules  of  Order,  or  by  the 

►•^  General  Laws  of  the  Federation,  shall  be  de- 

34  termined   by  a  majority  of  the  members  at  a 

regular  meeting. 

These  rules  may  be  suspended  for  a  special 
37  purpose  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 
88  bers  present. 

39  Roberts'    Rules    of    Order    shall    govern   the 

40  proceedings  of  the  Federation  in  the  absence 

41  of  any  rules  not  herein  provided  for. 

31 


INDEX 


CONSTITUTION. 

Page 
Org-anization  and  Objects 3 

Convention    3-5 

Pay   of   Delegates 5 

Nomination  and  Election  of  Officers  and  Execu- 
tive   Board    5-7 

Recall   of    Officers 7-8 

Duties   of  President 8-10 

Duties    of   Vice-President 10 

Duties    of   Secretary-Treasurer 10-12 

Executive  Board  and  Duties  of 12-13 

Auditors'  Appointment  and  Duty  of 13-14 

Revenues    and    Disbursements 14 

Penalty  for  Violation  of  Stamp  System 14 

Official   Journal 14-15 

Strikes    and   Adjustment 15-16 

New  Unions  and  Jurisdiction  of 16-17 

Penalties    17 

Duties  and  Privileges  of  Members 17-20 

Legislation     20-21 

Emergencies    by   Legislation 21 

Constitution,   How   Amended 21-2,2' 

BY-LAWS. 

Receipts  and  Accounts 23 

Password     23 

Membership  Card    23-24 

Withdrawal   Cards    24-25 

Reinstatement ,  .    24 

Interchangeable  Cards 24 

Transfer     24-25 

Supplies     25-26 

Nomination,  Election  of  Officers 26 

Balloting    25-27 

Jurisdictioja  of   Federation ^  .    27 

District  Unions    27 

Defunct  Unions 27-28 

Expelled  Members 28 

Correspondence  of  Locals 2.8 

Fines  and  Penalties  of  Delegates 29 

Order   of  Business 29 

Rules   of   Order 30-31 

32 


'•■•^:-?^ 


1 


